California health officials worried about rapid rise in flu deaths

SACRAMENTO -- California public health officials on Friday sounded the alarm over the recent spate of swine flu-related deaths around the state, saying the number of fatalities is rising rapidly and "exceeding what is expected for this time of year.''

And the only hope of keeping those numbers from soaring, they warned, is by convincing people to get their flu vaccine.

"If we get more people to get vaccinated now, I can assure that the curve (in numbers) will abate, and we will prevent many more illnesses,'' Dr. Gil Chavez, deputy director of the California Department of Public Health, said at a late morning news conference.

Three Bay Area residents are among seven statewide deaths caused by the flu and reported from late September, when the flu season starts, through Jan. 4.

Chavez also said all of the victims were younger than 65; none were children, and in at least two cases so far, the victims had not received vaccinations.

But 28 other deaths reported since Jan. 4 that may be flu-related are still under investigation, he said, and whether or not the majority were caused by the flu should be confirmed late next week.

While an uptick in flu cases is expected at this time of year, Chavez noted that it's "trending up a little earlier than last year'' and positive lab tests for flu for people younger than 65 are on the rise.